[h=1]AN ANCIENT AIRPLANE[/h][h=3]By R. Cedric Leonard[/h][HR][/HR][h=4]The ancient vimanas described in the Vedic and Puranic literature of India are so fabulous in their capabilities and construction, one might, with good reason, wonder if such things were actualities, especially those in particular which seem to savor of
daiva (myth). However, good evidence does exist indicating that more modest versions were actually built in ancient times by the aeronautical engineers of India, Mesopotamia, and a few other places. Especially is this true when details of construction, materials used, and theory of operation are given. Propulsion systems are addressed in a deliberately obscure fashion.[/h][h=4]A manuscript, composed in Sanskrit by King Bhoja in the 11th Century A.D., deals with techniques of warfare, and in particular with certain types of war machines. The work is called
Samarangana Sutradhara, or "Battlefield Commander"(sometimes abbreviated "the Samar"), and the whole of chapter XXXI is devoted to the construction and operation of several kinds of aircraft having various methods of propulsion.[/h][h=4]King Bhoja, who used the Sanskrit term
yantra more often than the more familiar
vimana, claims his knowledge was based on Hindu manuscripts which were ancient even in his time. Some of the techniques of manufacture described therein have been in use by British and American aircraft companies since World War I, and have been found to be sound aeronautical principles even though described nearly a thousand years earlier in this old Sanskrit work. The Sancrit term
vimana is used only once in the following passages, in spite of the proliferation of the term in some English translations I have seen.[/h][h=4]In looking over the complete text, it is perfectly clear that several types of aerial machines are being described in some detail. Those described below are limited to the atmosphere; yet some of these machines are said to be capable of flying into the
Suryamandala (Solar sphere), and others even of interstellar travel i.e., the
Naksatra mandala (stellar sphere). Below is my translation of the 11th century Sanskrit text.[/h]
[HR][/HR][h=2]SAMARANGANA SUTRADHARA
"Battlefield Commander"[HR][/HR][/h][h=3]Translated from the Sanskrit
By R. Cedric Leonard[/h]
[h=4]
"Strong and durable must the yantra's body be made, of light material and having wings joined smoothly with invisible seams. It can carry passengers, it can be made small and compact, it can move in silence. If sound is to be used successfully, there must be great flexibility in the driving mechanism, and all must be put together flawlessly. In order for it to accomplish its intended purpose, it must be extremely durable, it must be well covered in . . . it must not become too hot, too stiff, nor too soft, and its sharp-pointed battering ram must also be indestructable. Indeed, the machine's main qualities, which are remembered by one and all, include unending motion—which is to say perpetual motion. Smoothness is one of the machines supreme qualities; thus, the workings of the machine must be versatile, complete, not given to expansion, never complaining, and always applicable to the task."[/h][h=4]At this point the text becomes most interesting . . .
but also the most difficult. It is evident that essential elements in the propulsion system are deliberately vague—or completely left out. The reason for this is explained later in the text. I can see why the following has never appeared in any of the current English translations.[/h][h=4]
"At the critical time the beam of fire must be released, which will make the action possible. The time-beam expands, accompanied by the thunder of the expanding medium. This resultant expansion performs work like an elephant in an endless cycle."[/h][h=4][/h][h=4]Further along in the text is a paragraph which mentions using wood as a potential building material in the construction of one of these amazing machines (a
yantra); then it immediately lanuches into a description of a propulsion system using a combustible fuel similar to gasoline.[/h][h=4]
"The manufacturing of a conquering yantra is greatly to be desired . . . using light-weight wood to build a great air-going machine of a strong-bodied type. In the central container is the liquid consumed by the engine, which gradually burns away during complete combustion."[/h][h=4]Immediately following is a list of the possible motions and maneuvers available to the pilot. Several of these would have been deemed incredible by modern aircraft engineers until the introduction of the "hovercraft" and the more recent British aircraft commonly known as the Harrier (see further below).[/h][h=4]
"Fully renown are the techniques for mastering the following motions: vertical ascent; vertical descent; forwards; backwards; normal ascent; normal descent; slanting; progressing over long distances through proper adjustment of the working parts . . . its air-rending sound and roaring thunder can easily drown out the trumpeting of an elephant in panic—but it can also be moved by musical tones.[/h][h=4]
"Shining in every direction, their machine (yantra) could travel wherever the imagination dictated. From their great height they saw stimulating dances, drama plays, and pristine ritualistic ceremonies. Their yantra gained renown among Royal dynasties and various nations. In such a manner the High-Souled ones flew, while the lower classes walked. All those friends succeeded in their much-deserved acquisition of a yantra, by means of which human beings can fly in the air, and non-earthling, Celestial Beings, can come down to mortals when visiting the Earth."[/h][h=4]Certain of the aircraft described seem to be winged like a modern aeroplane; but such a craft could not go backwards, nor could it ascend or descend vertically. The term "dual-winged" without doubt appears in the following text in conjunction with some sort of air, or jet, propulsion.[/h][h=4]
". . . Thus, inside one must place the Mercury-engine; and properly mounted beneath it, the iron heating apparatus. Men thusly set the dual-winged, driving whirlwind in motion; and the concealed pilot, by means of the mercury-power, may travel a great distance in the sky."[/h][h=4]Then what follows is the description of a much larger, more complex
vimana, which is powered by four mercury-engines. (Note: this is the only place the term "vimana" is used in the Sanskrit passages translated on this page.)[/h][h=4]
"An extremely swift and nimble vimana can be built, as large as the temple of the God-in-motion. Into the interior structure four strong mercury containers must be installed. When these have been heated by a controlled fire from iron containers, the flying machine develops thunder-power through the mercury, becoming a highly desirable yantra. Moreover, if this iron engine with properly welded joints be filled with fluid [mercury?], when ascending or descending over land it generates power with the roar of a lion.[/h][h=4]
"The machine's construction and operating details are not publicly disclosed. For if their motivative power be made known publicly to others—giving out results described elsewhere—elements of these machines could be wrongly used."[/h][h=4]My apologies to Sanskrit experts for any deficiencies in the rendering of Bhoja's text. The script is difficult, and the frequent use of ligatures (combining several characters into one) complicates the task for all but the experts. I have been as faithful to the original text as my ability allows. Should I learn of ways to improve the translation, I will be prompt in making the desired changes. (R.C.L.)[/h]
[SIZE=-1]Drawing of small, delta-winged, Solar-Mercury powered
[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]
"vimana" reportedly based on a medieval original[/SIZE]
